adjectiveadverb

intellektuell

intellectual

Definition & meaning

The word "intellektuell" refers to something or someone relating to the intellect or the capacity for rational, logical, and abstract thought. It is used in two primary ways:

As an adjective: Describing a person or an activity that involves deep thinking, high-level reasoning, or scholarly pursuits. It often implies a preference for culture, philosophy, art, or science over purely emotional or practical concerns.
As a noun (der Intellektuelle, die Intellektuelle): Referring to a person who is engaged in complex intellectual work, such as a scholar, a writer, or a philosopher, who often exerts influence on the culture or politics of society.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatically, "intellektuell" functions as an adjective. When used as a noun, it follows the declension patterns of weak masculine or feminine nouns (e.g., ein Intellektueller, die Intellektuellen).

The word is derived from the Latin "intellectualis," which itself comes from "intellectus" (understanding, discernment). It entered the German language via the French "intellectuel."